Waves (2019) Ending Explained
tl;dr: The ending of Waves (2019) is a poignant, cyclical conclusion that emphasizes themes of grief, forgiveness, and the enduring bonds of family. After the tragic death of Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) due to his reckless actions, the film shifts focus to his sister, Emily (Taylor Russell), who navigates her own trauma and finds healing through her relationship with Luke (Lucas Hedges). The final scenes mirror the opening, symbolizing the relentless, wave-like nature of life-both its crushing lows and its potential for renewal. The film leaves viewers with a sense of bittersweet closure, suggesting that while pain is inevitable, love and connection can offer redemption.
The Cyclical Structure and Symbolism
The film's ending deliberately echoes its beginning, creating a cyclical structure that underscores its central metaphor: life is like waves, constantly ebbing and flowing between joy and sorrow. The opening scene shows Tyler running on a beach, full of youthful energy, while the ending shows Emily and Luke driving along the same coastline, this time with a sense of hard-won peace. The ocean imagery reinforces the idea that trauma and healing are perpetual processes. Even as Emily moves forward, the past remains present, much like waves that retreat only to return. Director Trey Edward Shults uses this visual parallelism to suggest that while time moves linearly, emotional scars and growth are recursive.
Emily's Arc: From Trauma to Tentative Healing
Emily's journey is the heart of the film's second half. After Tyler's death, she withdraws emotionally, struggling with guilt and isolation. Her relationship with Luke becomes a catalyst for healing, as he too carries grief (his father is dying of cancer). Their connection is fragile but transformative, offering a counterpoint to Tyler's destructive relationships. The final scenes show Emily and Luke in a quiet moment of intimacy, dancing in a parking lot-a stark contrast to Tyler's violent outbursts earlier in the film. This suggests that while pain is universal, the choice to embrace vulnerability (rather than rage) can lead to redemption.
Unresolved Questions and Interpretations
- Does Luke's father survive his illness?
- The film leaves this ambiguous, but his deteriorating health mirrors the inevitability of loss, reinforcing the theme of impermanence.
- What happens to Tyler's girlfriend, Alexis (Alexa Demie)?
- Her fate is unclear, but her absence in the second half implies she's another casualty of Tyler's downward spiral.
- Is the ending hopeful or resigned?
- It's arguably both: Emily's healing is real, but the specter of Tyler's death lingers, suggesting that closure is never complete.
The Role of the Parents
Ronald (Sterling K. Brown) and Catharine (Renée Elise Goldsberry) grapple with their failures as parents - Ronald's harshness may have exacerbated Tyler's self-destruction, while Catharine's passivity left Emily emotionally adrift. The ending subtly hints at their reconciliation, particularly in a silent shot of Ronald hugging Emily. This moment suggests that familial love, though imperfect, can endure even the worst tragedies. The parents' arc is left open-ended, inviting viewers to ponder whether they've truly learned from their mistakes or are doomed to repeat them.
Personal Opinion: A Masterpiece of Emotional Storytelling
Waves is a devastating yet beautiful exploration of how grief can both fracture and rebuild a family. The ending is intentionally ambiguous, refusing tidy resolutions, which I find more authentic than a conventional "happy" conclusion. The juxtaposition of Tyler's tragic arc with Emily's tentative hope is heartbreaking but necessary, showing how the same family can produce both destruction and resilience. Shults' direction, paired with Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross's haunting score, elevates the film into a visceral experience. While it's not an easy watch, its emotional honesty and visual poetry make it unforgettable. The ending lingers like a tide, pulling you back into its depths long after the credits roll.